Mount Hood wildfires force evacuations
- Clackamas and Hood River county officials expanded wildfire evacuations around Mount Hood on August 4 and 5 as the Grasshopper Fire drove closures across the forest. - Mount Hood National Forest said its closure took effect August 4 and covers trails, roads and recreation sites including Tamanawas Falls and Badger Creek. - Pacific Crest Trail hikers can monitor status on the PCTA closure page; county evacuation maps and forest alerts remain the main official sources.
Mount Hood’s wildfire disruption is centered on the Grasshopper Fire, which pushed evacuation warnings and recreation closures across parts of Mount Hood National Forest this week. Mt. Hood National Forest said a fire closure order took effect on August 4 and bars entry to closed forest lands, roads and trails in parts of the Barlow and Hood River ranger districts. The order lists popular recreation sites including Tamanawas Falls Trailhead, Badger Creek Trailhead, Sherwood Campground, Nottingham Campground and Polallie Trailhead. ### Which fire is driving the evacuations around Mount Hood? The Grasshopper Fire is the blaze behind the current restrictions, and officials have tied both evacuation notices and recreation shutdowns to its spread. Mt. Hood National Forest said the closure is in place “to help ensure public safety” and pointed visitors to county sheriff evacuation notices before heading into the area. Clackamas County issued a Level 1 “Be Ready” alert for parts of the Mount Hood corridor, including Government Camp and surrounding areas, according to the Pacific Crest Trail Association’s closure page and reporting by Oregon Public Broadcasting. (fs.usda.gov) OPB said officials warned residents near the base of Mount Hood to prepare to leave if the fire kept moving west. ### What exactly is closed in Mount Hood National Forest? (fs.usda.gov) The U.S. Forest Service order says the closure became effective on August 4 and can remain in place until December 31, 2026, unless it is updated or rescinded. The agency said the order prohibits going into closed areas, traveling on closed roads and using closed trails inside the fire closure boundary. The closure list includes Boulder Lake Trail, Tamanawas Falls Trail, White River West Sno-Park, Rock Creek Reservoir sites, Bonney Meadows Campground and parts of the Badger Creek area. (closures.pcta.org) Those specifics matter because the shutdown reaches beyond backcountry terrain and includes trailheads, campgrounds and day-use sites used by summer visitors on the mountain’s east side. ### Is the Pacific Crest Trail closed near Mount Hood? (fs.usda.gov) The Pacific Crest Trail was not fully closed in the Grasshopper Fire area as of the PCTA update posted August 4 at 12:46 p.m. The PCTA said the fire is burning east of the trail, that Hood River County issued a Level 2 “Be Set” evacuation warning overlapping sections of the trail, and that hikers should check regularly because conditions can change quickly. (fs.usda.gov) That means hikers are dealing with a narrower but still serious problem: the trail may remain open while nearby access points, evacuation zones and surrounding forest lands are under restrictions. The PCTA also said Clackamas County had issued a Level 1 alert affecting the Mount Hood corridor from Rhododendron east through Government Camp and nearby forest areas. ### What is happening at Timberline Lodge and the ski areas? (closures.pcta.org) Timberline Lodge was under a Level 1 evacuation notice as of August 4, according to KATU and industry publication SAM. KATU reported that mountain operations were closed while the historic hotel remained open, and SAM quoted Timberline director of marketing and public affairs John Burton saying, “We have shut down mountain ops.” (closures.pcta.org) Mount Hood Meadows faced the sharper immediate threat. Multiple reports said the resort was placed under a Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation order on August 4 as the fire approached the east side of the mountain. ### Where should travelers and hikers check before going? Mt. Hood National Forest said visitors should check county evacuation notices before heading out, and the forest alerts page remains the authoritative source for the closure order and affected recreation sites. (katu.com) The Oregon wildfire response site says residents should rely on county sheriff or emergency manager updates for local evacuation information. (statesmanjournal.com) The Pacific Crest Trail Association’s closure page is the clearest trail-specific source for hikers moving through the Mount Hood section. As of the latest posted update there, the trail remained open, but the group warned hikers to keep a backup plan ready. (closures.pcta.org) (fs.usda.gov)
